Once those old blue jeans go out of style or contain enough holes to be considered cheesecloth, it's time for them to enter a new stage in life. From bags to computer cases, denim is a wonderful material for the resourceful crafter. More ambitious textile artists could take some serious inspiration from Sweden-based artist Ian Berry, also known as "<a title="Denimu- Denimu" href="http://www.denimu.com/index.htm" target="_blank">Denimu.</a>" Berry takes advantage of the many shades of blue denim to create detailed landscapes and interiors comparable to anything done with a brush.

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Denimu

Berry, aka Denimu, first started his work with denim after being greeted by a pile of old jeans after a trip to his childhood home in Huddersfield, England.

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Denimu

Where most people would see a heap of garbage or at best a charity donation, he saw a new medium.

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Denimu

He began experimenting with denim during his time as an art director in London, and despite building a successful career for big brands such as Nissan and Guinness, he decided to dedicate his full attention to his passion for the pants.

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Denimu

Berry explains that his pieces are accomplished "...through a material that while personal to me, is also so ubiquitous - transcending borders, race, age, social class and time. A link to my past, but also to one another. Initially drawn to the artistic possibilities offered by the deep and varied texture of the fabric, later I became fascinated by the rich heritage of Denim. A story that has run alongside that of modern history. A material that abounds in dualities and meanings. A symbol of both egalitarianism and of materialism. A reflection of the world in which we live."

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Denimu

Using bleach, stencils, and glue, he takes takes several weeks to cut and stitch a piece together.

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Denimu

His landscapes and interiors have been exhibited across the world, including a completed mural for the James Dean museum in Fairmount, Indiana.

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Denimu

Moody, tonal, and extremely detailed, Berry's work is is a masterful exploration of a very unusual medium.

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Denimu

Berry's "paintings" represent the cultures that gave rise to the blue jean.

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Denimu

Graphic and complex, each piece looks as though it was painted with a brush.

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Denimu

Through denim, Berry records his urban landscape.

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Denimu

Denim and blue jeans are go hand in hand as icons of Americana.

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Denimu

Reminiscent of Hopper, Berry's compositions capture the every day life of city dwellers.

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Denimu

Once those old blue jeans go out of style or contain enough holes to be considered cheesecloth, it's time for them to enter a new stage in life. From bags to computer cases, denim is a wonderful material for the resourceful crafter. More ambitious textile artists could take some serious inspiration from Sweden-based artist Ian Berry, also known as "Denimu." Berry takes advantage of the many shades of blue denim to create detailed landscapes and interiors comparable to anything done with a brush.